Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.

Thought for the Evening
7-27

MORE KNOWLEDGE THAN LOVE

From a testimony by Uncle Joe in Louisville, Kentucky in the late 1970's

When Uncle Joe stood up to testify at Brother Delbert's mission on Vim Drive that night, I didn't know he would say words that I would never be able to forget. With his strong voice and with tears, he told the whole congregation that he had begged God in prayer not to give him more knowledge than love. "I don't want to know more than I love," he said, meaning that he did not want the Lord to grant him more knowledge of God than love of God.

The point was clear to us all. Paul touched on it when he wrote of "the love of God that passes all understanding", and when he told the Corinthians that "the greatest of these is [God's] love".

It is a dangerous thing to have more knowledge than love. "Knowledge", Paul said, "puffs up", and the more knowledge a man possesses beyond the limit of his love for God and others, the prouder he becomes. It is better to love God and not understand His doctrines than to understand his doctrines and be proud against those who are still ignorant of them.

Daily Thoughts

In Isaiah 55, we are told that God's thoughts are not our thoughts and that God's thoughts are as far from men as the heavens are from the earth. These collections of thoughts were given to Pastor John from the holy Spirit of God. For God to condescend to man, and to give His thoughts to him is a rare and precious thing. That is why these thoughts are so valuable.

These thoughts can cheer the hearts of the discouraged; bring unity to divided situations and, speak words of life and hope at the most needed times. Many of the experiences, teachings, and thoughts in this book came from Pastor John's father, George C. "Preacher" Clark. "Preacher Clark" was also a man anointed by God with a message for God's children. So these collections include nearly a century of experience in the things of God and doctrinal truths sent by the holy Ghost to true pastors.